YOUR PETS CAN BE HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER IN 2024 WITH SOME OR ALL OF THESE PAWSOME PET NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS!
A new year brings new goals and more than 300 days of opportunity for you and your pet to bond, develop healthier habits, and discover new ways to live a full life. Your pet can live a better tomorrow with your help. An important first step is to avoid becoming overwhelmed thinking you need to make big changes overnight. Baby steps in the right direction are the way to go. The important thing is to make a plan and move steadily forward.
Last week we looked at PART 1 of the three-part series on pawsome New Year’s resolutions for the animals you choose to share your life with.
Re-publication: Originally published 11 January 2023
TRY A NEW ACTIVITY, LOOK AT THINGS FROM A NEW ANGLE OR GO ON AN ADVENTURE
You see so much more of the world compared to the animals in your care. To them, you, your family, and your home are their world. Let them see more! Do you have an adventurous dog breed? Or a curious cat? Try a new activity with them. Find something you both love doing. Many restaurants are now offering dog-friendly seating areas and during the off-season, more beaches are open to dogs.
INCORPORATE MORE PLAY AND FUN TIME
Besides being fun, playing has a vital role in their development. It promotes confidence. If they are confident, they tend to be less anxious or fearful. You should also play breed-specific games including scent & track, eye & stalk, chase, grab-bite, kill-bite, possess, dissect, and consume. Resolve to get at least one new toy and play with your pet, even just 5 minutes a day. For cats, you can also buy a new scratching post or build a new cat tress. Most dogs love car rides.
SCHEDULE A WELLNESS CHECK-UP WITH YOUR VET AND IMPROVE YOUR PET’S HEALTH
- Regular appointments are so important for ensuring that your animals enjoy many happy and healthy years. It can help detect any potential problems early. So, consider adding more wellness appointments to your New Year’s resolution list, but do at least once a year.
- Make sure your necessary vaccinations are up-to-date.
- Around the age of 8, their wellness and nutritional needs can require fine-tuning every 4 to 6 months.
- In older animals, it’s very important to review weight, muscle tone, joint range of motion, diet, supplement protocol, and exercise habits at least semi-annually.
- Through a healthy diet, exercise, enrichment, and keeping your home safe and toxin-free, their health can improve drastically.
SEEK MORE NATURAL WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR PET’S HEALTH
‘Integrated’ health care for domestic animals can combine the best of conventional Veterinary medicine, alongside diet and nutrition, supplements, herbal and homeopathic formulas, physiotherapy acupressure, and acupuncture. All of which can improve our pet’s quality of life.
Schedule an appointment with a natural health care practitioner to see how a more natural approach to your pet’s health care could benefit them this year…… and every year in the future.
ADD YOUR PETS TO YOUR WILL
What is the immediate and long-term plan for your pets if you die today? Are they included in your will? Will they be taken care of? It is important to list specific instructions in your will! Is there someone in your town who will be responsible for taking care of your pets in case of an emergency? You can also LEAVE A LEGACY, by donating part of your estate to an animal shelter.
MICROCHIP AND REGISTER (OR UPDATE) YOUR PET’S MICROCHIP & ID COLLAR INFO
If your pet doesn’t have a microchip, get one now! There are affordable options and it drastically improves the chances of reuniting your pet with you if they get lost. You have to register your details on a database (preferably more than one) so it can be linked to the microchip number. Otherwise, the microchip means nothing. Make sure your details are up-to-date if you moved or changed numbers. Have a recent photo ready in case they get lost. Read everything you need to know about microchips here.
CLEAR OUT OLD TOYS & GET CREATIVE BY MAKING SOME NEW ONES
Take a fresh look at their toy collection and stop holding on to old, tatty, and often germ-infested pet toys. Now’s the perfect time to do a good clean and clear and to give your pet something fun and new to play with. Choose safe toys made of natural materials and clean them regularly. Read more on pet toys.
Other things to toss as shared by Bark & Whiskers:
Toss this: Retractable leash
Replace with this: 6-foot flat leash
Toss this: Plastic food and water bowl
Replace with this: Stainless steel, porcelain, or glass food and water bowls
Toss this: Old, stinky and ill-fitting collar
Replace with this: New collar
Toss this: Dull nail trimmers
Replace with this: Freshly sharpened or new nail trimmers, or a battery-operated rotary tool (e.g., a Dremel)
Toss this: Broken or chewed-up toys
Replace with this: Repaired or new nontoxic toys
SCHEDULE SOME DAILY DIY GROOMING TIME
Grooming is important to keep the coat shiny and healthy. Like playtime, grooming is something that most pets look forward to and it’s a bonding activity. Grooming your pet is also a great way to notice if something is off. Make sure their coat/skin is in good condition, nails are trimmed, eyes and ears are clean as well as maintaining good dental hygiene.
Your pets didn’t have a choice when they came to stay with you and since you chose to have them, it is your responsibility to meet their every need! Next week we will continue with the final part of this three-part series on the pet New Year’s resolutions. Do better for your pets in 2024!
Do you have a New Year’s resolution for your pet?
WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER, DO BETTER!
